Man charged with driving with three pipe bombs in Northridge

Pipe bomb in Northridge

Jason Wells

A 55-year-old man was charged Friday with four felony counts after police allegedly found three pipe bombs in his SUV during a traffic stop in Northridge.

David Patton, of Encino, had allegedly been driving with one of the pipe bombs between his feet on the floorboard when he was pulled over Wednesday for appearing to be "a little bit under the influence of narcotics," LAPD Capt. Stephen Carmona told KTLA-TV.

Police discovered the bombs during a more thorough search of his SUV, prosecutors said.

A bomb squad used a robot to remove the device and detonate it nearby. No injuries were reported.

Devonshire Street and Reseda Boulevard were temporarily closed to traffic for several blocks.

In addition to three felony counts of possessing a destructive device on a public street, Patton faces one count of possessing methamphetamine, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

If convicted of all charges, Patton faces a maximum six years and eight months in jail. He was being held in lieu of $530,000 bail, prosecutors said.